Department of Computer Science
Computer Science at Loyola University Chicago
Starting with projects that require using your head, not repeating lessons from a textbook, our computer science students gain an education that builds skills and careers.
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All students have something to gain here, whether you are already considering one of our many new majors or if you might be interested in a minor, an additional major, or a course or two.
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Current Students
Get involved in events, research, and academic support
There's always something to do at the Department of Computer Science! Develop your skills through collaborating with faculty, staff, and peers in research projects, keep up to date with events and our Seminar Series, and utilize our resources for academic success.
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Students
Celebrating Undergraduate Researchers at Loyola
A new photo released by Loyola University Chicago congratulates four exceptional students—Muhammad Javed, Jonah Goldberg-Finkelstein, Malec Tarabein, and Abigal Daman—for presenting their work as part of the 2025 Undergraduate Summer Research Experience (USRE). As part of the CAS USRE program, these first- and second-year students spent four weeks working closely with faculty mentors on hands-on research projects. Their work explored topics such as web privacy, using human behavior to help robots understand language, and generating both pristine and manipulated biological images to support computer-aided scientific research. The students were mentored by Drs. George Thiruvathukal, Daniel Moreira, and Eric Chan-Tin. The USRE program gives early undergraduate students the opportunity to dive into research in the sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Participants are paired with faculty and guided through the research process from start to finish.
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Staff
1 Million in Linked NSF Grants to Support the BullyBlocker Project
The grant proposal Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Toward Well-being by Design in Social Media, led by Yas Silva (PI at Loyola University Chicago as Lead Site), Deborah Hall (PI at Arizona State University) and Huan Liu (Co-PI at ASU), has received funding from the National Science Foundation under the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program. The new linked awards will provide near $1M across LUC ($500,001) and ASU ($499,988) to expand the team’s research toward creating safer and healthier social media experiences. Through the integration of computer science and psychology, this project seeks to better understand how problematic online behaviors can be identified and prevented and the connections between specific features of social media and well-being. Major components include developing models for the early detection of problematic online behaviors, designing social media features that prioritize users’ well-being (rather than attention).
LEARN MOREStaff
Loyola Joins National $298K NSF Project to Expand AI Education
Loyola University Chicago is joining a new national effort to make artificial intelligence (AI) education more accessible—especially at schools with smaller computing programs. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $298,882 to the University of Wyoming for the project, with Loyola, the College of Charleston, and the Computing Research Association as key partners. The goal is to help more teachers bring AI into the classroom by offering support, sharing resources, and building a strong community of educators. Loyola’s Dr. George Thiruvathukal is a co-leader on the project, which will include virtual roundtables and an in-person workshop to discuss challenges and share ideas. The project is part of the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot, which helps schools with limited tech resources get access to powerful AI tools. Interested in AI or cybersecurity? This is a great example of how Loyola students and faculty are helping shape the future of tech education.
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Staff
National Acknowledgment of Loyola's CyberSecurity Program
Loyola University Chicago has been re-designated for another 5 years until 2030 as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. The validated program of study is the BS in Cybersecurity. This re-designation shows the strength of the cybersecurity program at Loyola and also opens doors for our students to participate in national cybersecurity competitions, Scholarship for Service, and the DoD Cyber Service Academy.
LEARN MOREEvents
Loyola Hosts 12th Greater Chicago Area Systems Research Workshop
Loyola University participated in the 12th Greater Chicago Area Systems Research Workshop, a dynamic gathering that showcased cutting-edge research and innovation in computer science and systems research. This year’s event featured 89 posters presented by undergraduate and graduate students from Loyola and other institutions across the region. The workshop provided an engaging platform for students to share their work, receive feedback, and connect with leading researchers and peers in the field. Loyola's own Satyaki Sikdar delivered a featured presentation, further highlighting the university's growing impact and leadership in systems research. Thank you to all participants, presenters, and organizers who made this event a success. We look forward to continued collaboration and innovation in future workshops!
Students
Sarah Sumrall Accepted into Prestigious Cyberus MS Program
Congratulations to Sarah Sumrall, BS Cybersecurity Class of 2025, on her acceptance into the highly competitive Cyberus Master’s Program, where she will be pursuing the Internet of Things (IoT) track. This achievement marks an exciting next step in Sarah’s journey in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity. We’re proud to see Loyola students continuing to excel and make meaningful contributions to the tech world. Way to go, Sarah!
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Program
A Bright Night for Computer Science at Loyola!
The Loyola Computer Science Department proudly hosted this year’s Luminary event—and we’re excited to share that it was a glowing success. A big congratulations to all the students who attended and helped make the evening so special with your energy and presence. The event brought together students, faculty, and staff to celebrate innovation, connection, and the bright futures ahead. From inspiring conversations to shared moments of community, the night truly lived up to its name. We’d like to give a special thank you and congratulations to our amazing Department Admins, Victoria Bourne and Brielle Buford, for their crucial role in organizing and assisting with the event’s execution. We also extend our sincere gratitude to Department Chair George Thiruvathukal and the many professors who supported and participated in the evening. Stay tuned to the Department’s news page and the Loyola student Sakai announcement page for updates on future events like this one.
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Student Success
Loyola University Chicago at WiCyS 2025
From April 2 to 5, 2025, several Loyola University Chicago students, along with their faculty advisor, attended the annual Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Conference in Texas. Representing Loyola were students Lucia Garr, Nika Primus, Anisa Ramos, Nancy Rojas, Fiona Nicdao, and Gulnaz Zholshy. The WiCyS Conference is a premier event dedicated to advancing the role of women in cybersecurity. It brings together students, educators, industry professionals, and government leaders to foster community, mentorship, and professional development. Through keynotes, technical sessions, workshops, and career networking opportunities, WiCyS empowers women to thrive in the cybersecurity field and helps close the gender gap in tech. Loyola is proud to support student participation in events like WiCyS that not only build skills and connections, but also promote a more inclusive and diverse future for cybersecurity.
Student Success
Dr. Yas Silva Receives 2025 Sujack Award for Research Excellence
Dr. Yas Silva received the 2025 Sujack Family Award for Faculty Research Excellence, the top research award given at Loyola’s College of Arts and Sciences. The awards ceremony was held on April 24, 2025. The award statement mentioned that “Dr. Silva’s groundbreaking work in cyberbullying detection and prevention has made a significant impact in both academia and society. We recognize his leadership in the BullyBlocker Project, an innovative initiative that combines computational models with social science frameworks to analyze and mitigate cyberbullying on social networks.” Congratulations to Dr. Silva and the BullyBlocker team!
Student Success
Chloe Kilroy and Tyler Rosario Honored for Research Impacting the Loyola Community
We are pleased to announce that Chloe Kilroy and Tyler Rosario have received the award for "Research Impacting the Loyola Community" at the Loyola University Chicago Graduate School Interdisciplinary Symposium, held on April 12, 2025, for their presentation, “Cyberbullying Networks: Analyzing Victim, Aggressor, and Defender Interactions on Instagram.” Their research was conducted as part of the BullyBlocker Project and was mentored by Professors Satyaki Sikdar and Yas Silva. This award honors graduate research that makes a significant and positive impact on the Loyola community through service, engagement, innovation, or scholarship. Chloe and Tyler’s work stood out for its rigor, relevance, and meaningful contributions to campus life and beyond. Please join us in congratulating Chloe and Tyler on this outstanding achievement!
Faculty Success
CRA Leadership Academy
Dr. Eric Chan-Tin, Founding Director of the Loyola Center for Cybersecurity and Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science, was accepted to participate in the 2025 CRA Leadership Academy.
Talk from ORNL
Dr. Toby Nelson gave a talk titled “Green Chemistry: From Biosourced and Bioinspired Organic Semiconductors to Mechanochemistry” to our students in March 2025.
Welcome the New Cybersecurity Office Assistant!
We are thrilled to introduce our newest team member, Brielle Buford, who has joined us as the Center for Cybersecurity Office Assistant!
WiCyS Loyola Steminist
On March 14, WiCyS Loyola hosted an incredible Steminist event, bringing together seven powerhouse women speakers from top organizations like Loyola University Chicago, Motorola Solutions, Northern Trust, and Northwestern University.
February Cybersecurity Competitions
Our students participated in multiple national cybersecurity competitions in February including Department of Energy Command and Illinois Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC).
ChiBrrCon 2025
On February 13, 2025, a group of Loyola University Chicago students, including Lynette Lim, Nika Primus, and Lucia Garr, braved the cold weather and snow and attended ChiBrrCon 2025 in Chicago.